FRAMEWORKS:
1 Corinthians 12
In
this ‘Framework' we use our usual text PLUS comment style to enable
you, as simply as possible, to catch the sense of his writing.
FRAMEWORKS:
1 Corinthians 12: Gifts & the Body of Christ
v.1-7
Spirit Distributed Gifts
v.8-11
The Spiritual Gifts
v.12-14
It's One Body with Many Parts
v.15-20
There are different parts to the Body
v.21-26
Each Part needs the others
v.27-31
The Gifts & Ministries
[Chapter
Synopsis: Intriguingly,
perhaps because he feels he has said enough already, these three
chapters [12-14] go together but do not have any strong corrective
language as previous chapters have had. The whole tone and nature
of these three chapters is clearly instructive and can easily
be seen as correctives perhaps to the weaknesses of worship in
this church, a charismatic church very clearly, and so these three
chapters stand out as Holy Spirit directions for every church.
Very specifically Paul's encouragements in chapter 14 challenge
any suggestion that God would not want these things for today.
The structure of this first chapter identifies the nine ‘gifts
of the Spirit' but then these are seen in the light of the unity
of the one body made up of many members (us as individuals). It
concludes by reminding us that gifts can be translated into ministries
for the blessing of the church – see also Eph 4:12,13.]
v.1-7
Spirit Distributed Gifts
v.1
(teaching
about the gifts of the Spirit is needful) Now
about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not
want you to be uninformed.
v.2
(before
being Christians you lived in a silent world, now one where God
speaks and moves [implied]) You
know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced
and led astray to mute idols.
v.3
(when
people extol God, it the Spirit) Therefore
I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of
God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,”
except by the Holy Spirit.
v.4
(although
there are different gifts, it's the same Holy Spirit who hands
them out) There
are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes
them.
v.5
(similarly
with ways of serving God) There
are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
v.6
(similarly
with whatever ways God works) There
are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone
it is the same God at work.
v.7
(now
these are all given to bring blessing) Now
to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common
good.
[Passage
Synopsis: The main
point is that in the church, whether it is gifts, ways of serving,
or seeing God working in revelation and power, it's all the work
of the Holy Spirit.]
v.8-11
The Spiritual Gifts
v.8-10
(Nine
‘gifts' are identified here) To
one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom
, to another a message of knowledge
by means of the same Spirit, to another faith
by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing
by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers,
to another prophecy, to another distinguishing
between spirits, to another speaking in different
kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation
of tongues.
v.11
(these
are the work of the one Holy Spirit who gives them [enables the
individual to express them] as He sees appropriate ) All
these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes
them to each one, just as he determines.
[Passage
Synopsis: The teaching
is clear and specific, gifts [except the last two] are expressions
of Jesus by his Spirit [seen in his ministry] and enabled by the
Spirit to individuals as He sees their availability and openness
to be used.]
v.12-14
It's One Body with Many Parts
v.12
(we
need to remember the church is just one body, the ‘body of Christ'
but the body has many parts) Just
as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts
form one body, so it is with Christ.
v.13
(when
we were immersed in the Spirit we were made into this one body,
regardless of our background) For
we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether
Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one
Spirit to drink.
v.14
(so
one body, many parts) Even
so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
[Passage
Synopsis: Perhaps
because of the divisive nature of this church, a number of times
in this chapter Paul emphasizes that we are one body in Christ.]
v.15-20
There are different parts to the Body
v.15
(so
we are different parts and using the analogy of a human body,
Paul shows how silly it is to dismiss pats of the body that are
different from us) Now
if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong
to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of
the body.
v.16
(so
he continues the same analogy…) And
if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong
to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of
the body.
v.17
(…
and points out how each part contributes a significant and vital
function to the whole body) If
the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?
If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell
be?
v.18
(it
is God who has made us what we are and arranged us in the body
as we are) But
in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them,
just as he wanted them to be.
v.19
(what
a freaky body it would be if it wasn't like this) If
they were all one part, where would the body be?
v.20
(so,
again, one body, many members) As
it is, there are many parts, but one body.
[Passage
Synopsis: The emphasis
moves on to recognise our essential differences.]
v.21-26
Each Part needs the others
v.21
(need
of each part becomes the focus) The
eye cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” And the head cannot
say to the feet, “I don't need you!”
v.22-25
(weaker
or ‘less honourable' parts are just as important) On
the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are
indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honourable
we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable
are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts
need no special treatment. But God has put the body together,
giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there
should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have
equal concern for each other.
v.26
(we
feel when any part suffers) If
one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured,
every part rejoices with it.
[Passage
Synopsis: The point
here is about need and suffering. The reality is we need each
part regardless of how visible they are and if one part suffers
the whole body becomes aware of it.]
v.27-31
The Gifts & Ministries
v.27
(here
again, one body, many parts) Now
you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
v.28
(and
some of these parts become ministries) And
God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets,
third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping,
of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
v.29,30
(but
not all and not all the same) Are
all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work
miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues?
Do all interpret?
v.31
(note
'eagerly desire' ones that bless the body most, but there is yet
a better way to be considered ) Now
eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the
most excellent way.
[Passage
Synopsis: The concluding
section emphasizes yet again the one body comprises many parts,
some of which develop into ministries, not all the same but many
different ministries, and in Christ we should desire gifts and
ministries to bless the body and the world.]